take great pains; rack one's brains
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to take great pains; to rack one's brains; to make painstaking efforts
formalDescribes making great mental efforts to accomplish something or solve a problem. Often used in formal or written contexts to emphasize the difficulty or dedication involved.
Lǎo老
shī师
wèi为
le了
zhǔn准
bèi备
zhè这
táng堂
kè课
shà煞
fèi费
kǔ苦
xīn心
。
The teacher took great pains to prepare for this lesson.
Tā他
shà煞
fèi费
kǔ苦
xīn心
de地
xiǎng想
chū出
le了
yī一
gè个
wán完
měi美
de的
jì计
huà划
。
He racked his brains to come up with a perfect plan.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Wèi为
le了
zhì治
hǎo好
fù父
qīn亲
de的
bìng病
，
quán全
jiā家
rén人
dōu都
shà煞
fèi费
kǔ苦
xīn心
。
The whole family took great pains to cure their father's illness.